To maximize the positive impact of technology for women, ITU, the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) and EQUALS Global Partnership have launched a cooperative project to enhance the digital ecosystem and build digital skills for women in least developed countries (LDC).

In the spotlight

Gender equality in digital policy

Country Reports of Ethiopia and Burundi

These country reports have been prepared by International Telecommunication Union (ITU) within the framework of the project titled "Enhancing the Digital Ecosystem and Digital Skills for the economic empowerment of women in LDCs" funded by the ITU Information Communications and Technology Development Fund and the Enhanced Integrated Framework.

The reports provide an overview of the extent to which gender is addressed in Ethiopia and Burundi’s digital policies, strategies, and regulations, divided into categories such as international development instruments, national digital policies and strategies, and digital sector-related laws and regulations. The reports include a non-exhaustive list of specific programmes supporting digital inclusion in the respective countries.

Download the reports

Gender equality in digital policy in Ethiopia

Gender equality in digital policy in Burundi (French)

Enhancing the digital ecosystem and digital skills for the economic empowerment of women in Burundi, Ethiopia and Haiti

The vision

ITU envisions a future where everyone can access and use ICTs productively. Technology plays a key role in building economic opportunities for women around the world, by encouraging girls and women to participate fully in local, regional and global economies. When women and girls can access the internet and learn the skills to use information and communications technologies (ICTs), they have the opportunity to start new businesses, sell products to new markets, and find better-paid jobs.

The target

The project specifically aims to reduce the digital gender gap in three least developed countries (LDCs), Haiti, Burundi and Ethiopia, by using technology to drive women's economic opportunities in the textile and apparel industries as well as the coffee and cocoa value chains. In each selected country, this project will enable local women to benefit from the new possibilities that come with the access to digital technologies.

In close cooperation with the EQUALS Global Partnership, the project will work with key public and private stakeholders to address systemic issues that prevent women from accessing and use digital technologies and being change makers.

The goals

Policy: Improve the policy and regulatory environment that affects the selected countries' digital society through an open and innovative discussion with key stakeholder groups: policymakers, women, academia, and the private sector.

Communities: Increase the economic and professional opportunities of working-age women by equipping them with digital skills and providing a route to match job market supply and demand and facilitate their entrepreneurial activities. This component will be delivered in close collaboration with national partners such as selected cooperatives and associations, whose capacity to provide better ICT services and tools for working-age women will be strengthened.

Targetted countries and industries

Textiles and Apparel Industry in Ethiopia

We work with partners in the local ecosystem to prepare working-age women, women owned businesses and female entrepreneurs pivot to digital.

Agriculture sector in Burundi

We work with local actors by providing digital skills enhancement to benefit women in the coffee and tea value chains.

Textiles and Apparel Industry Haiti